A Life More Ordinary

Dumbledore's Office--October 1987

"I'm afraid I have no answers for you," Albus said, shaking his head as he turned away from the window--where he'd been watching Harry tending to the pumpkin patch with Hagrid.

"Then you didn't ask Fawkes to give another of his feathers to Ollivander?" Sirius asked, already prepared to disbelieve the older wizard, especially as he'd been mysteriously busy for months while Sirius had stewed over this question.

"Fawkes is a singular bird, Sirius," Albus said. "And as I'm sure Ollivander himself told you, magical creatures give up pieces of themselves only on their own wish."

"Do you think it's significant though?" Remus cut in before Sirius could point out that the headmaster hadn't actually answered the question. "It is a rather strange coincidence, wouldn't you say?"

"Not so very strange," Albus said with smile. "Harry did defeat Voldemort, after all."

Sirius and Remus shared a glance and Dumbledore sat down before pinning both of them with solemn eyes. "Harry is obviously extremely powerful. I've always suspected as much, but it became much clearer after you explained what happened when Harry first visited Ollivander's, Sirius. Voldemort, as you both know very well, was one of the most powerful wizards of this, or any, time."

Disturbed by the headmaster's words, Sirius said sharply, "Voldemort's power was dark."

"Yes," Albus agreed. "And it was always dark--from the moment of his birth most likely. Harry is nothing like Voldemort; that is not what I meant, Sirius. But I do believe Harry is matched in power. And it is very rare," he went on, "to find a phoenix feather in a wand. The one who wields its power must be very strong."

Remus' fingers closed over his as Sirius swallowed. "If Harry is ... as powerful as you say," he began and then shook his head when he couldn't decide how to finish. Dumbledore nodded, understanding as only he could.

"Harry has Lily's magic embedded in him," he reminded them. "Her goodness as well; he will not be enticed by the lure of dark magic. And he will be well-trained at Hogwarts, Sirius. And you and Remus are both well-suited to channeling any bouts of magic, accidental or otherwise."

Sirius nodded jerkily. "And his dreams-"

"I can only assume they will continue until he fully understands what happened that night," Dumbledore interrupted, his voice sorrowful.

Even though Sirius had suspected that Albus would say that, it was no easier to accept.

--

"Did you have fun?" Sirius asked as he helped Harry arrange the massive pumpkin on the kitchen table after they'd returned to Grimmauld Place. Harry grinned as he nodded.

"I really like Hagrid," he said. "And he knows loads about magical creatures. Maybe even more than Ollivander!"

"Well that certainly is impressive," Sirius said, smiling.

"Do you know he's seen unicorns too? They live in the Forbidden Forest. He's allowed to go in there but he said you and Remus wouldn't like it if he took me in there with him."

"No, we wouldn't," Remus said, turning from where he was taking things from the cupboard to start dinner. He gave Harry his most serious look. "You aren't to go in there."

"I won't," Harry said hastily, already turning back to Sirius to continue on. "Hagrid says there are thestrals in the forest too. And Minotaurs and Centaurs--I wish I could see the thestral. They have scales just like a dragon you know."

"Yes, I do know," answered Sirius. Remus had paused again, frowning a little now. Sirius took Harry's shoulder and drew his godson against his side. Harry tilted his head up until he was looking at Sirius. "And sometime, if you like, we can go to Hogwarts and see them--they often come onto the school grounds, but the Forbidden Forest is a dangerous place and we don't want you to get hurt. You are never to go in there, not even with another adult. Do you understand?"

Harry's grin had faded from his face and Sirius' stomach swooped with a momentary guilt but Harry was nodding solemnly in the next second. "I won't," his small voice said again, but this time it was a promise.

Sirius smiled, which eased the tension in his godson's shoulders. He ruffled Harry's dark hair. "Good boy," he said, his voice deep with affection and Harry smiled softly at the praise. "What shall we do with this pumpkin?" Sirius asked as he gave Harry's shoulder a squeeze. "It would make an awful lot of pumpkin pasties."

But Harry shook his head as he wiggled out from under Sirius' arm and knelt on one of the chairs. "I want to carve it," he said, his excitement restored. "Mr. Weasley always makes really spooky faces. Will you help me draw one, Remus? Even scarier than Mr. Weasley's?" he asked over his shoulder and Remus smiled.

"I don't know, Harry," he said, furrowing his light eyebrows. "Mr. Weasley's pumpkins are rather frightening."

"We can do it, Remus," Harry pressed, already leaning over the pumpkin, his finger drawing an imaginary face. "We'll draw eyebrows. You know, ones that turn down. And we'll put a whole mess of candles inside!"

"I think you've got yourself a challenge, Moony," Sirius said with a chuckle.

"You can help too, Sirius," Harry said. He twisted around so quickly that Sirius had to catch his elbow before he toppled onto the floor.

"That's why chairs prefer bottoms to knees," Sirius said with a smirk. More seriously, he added. "Sit properly so you don't crack your skull."

"Or better," Remus interjected, "go wash up. You're filthy."

Harry studied his dirt-caked fingernails. "Do I have to wash under my fingernails?" he asked, eyes hopeful.

"Yes," Sirius said, and smiled as he watched Harry's shoulder's deflate. "And your face."

Harry sighed but he slid off his chair, his feet plonking on the floor with two loud splats. "Not behind my ears," he negotiated as he lingered by the table. "That's only in a bath."

"You can skip your hair as well," Sirius agreed with a smile, giving his godson a light, backhanded crack on the seat of his pants to move him along. Harry giggled as he dodged out of reach.

"Don't forget the soap," Remus reminded him as Harry rounded the corner.

"I hate that soap," Harry grumbled as his trainers squeaked against the stairs.

"Harry James," Sirius called out, putting a bit of an emphasis on the second name.

"Okay, okay," he heard Harry grumble before the door to the lav closed.

"Cheeky little bugger, isn't he?" Sirius said, chuckling as Remus shook his head. Sirius slid his arms around Remus' waist, nuzzling his neck before resting his chin on the other man's shoulder. "What can I help with?" he murmured.

Remus didn't answer right away, instead turning his head enough that Sirius had easy access to his lips. Remus was smiling when he pulled away. "Those apples that Hagrid gave us need to be peeled if you want a crumble for dessert."

"Mm," Sirius murmured in agreement as he kissed his husband one more time and it was with great reluctance that he released Remus a moment later to slip his wand from his sleeve. He found the peeler and cast a spell on it. Apples rose from the basket, forming an obedient queue behind the utensil.

Harry came in as one of the curls of apple peel propelled itself toward the rubbish bin; he had to duck to avoid being smacked in the face.

"Hey!" Harry protested, glaring at the next curl until it skirted around him and flung itself into the bin after its mate.

"Hmm," Sirius mused, "I don't think they like being tossed out."

"Apples can't be angry," Harry told him with a roll of his eyes as Sirius gestured for him to hold out his hands for inspection. He clambered up on the stool beside Remus when Sirius pronounced him clean, only to turn around again when a light rap sounded against the back window--an owl was peering in at them.

"Berenices!"

Draco's eagle owl hooted softly; impatiently but Harry was already scrambling off the stool.

"Alohomora," Sirius chanted before Harry reached the window. Harry opened it easily and Berenices swooped inside, coming to rest on top of the pumpkin's tall stem. She tipped her beak down once in greeting and hooted again. Harry grinned as he stroked the brown and black feathers.

"Good girl," he said quietly and the owl nibbled gently at Harry's cheek. Harry snorted out a soft breath of laughter as he untied the scroll from the contented owl's ankle. Remus tucked an owl treat into Harry's palm which Berenices ate neatly. "Will you help me, Sirius?" Harry asked, already unrolling the parchment.

Once Harry was seated on Sirius' knee and the letter was smoothed flat on the table, Harry leaned over to decipher it. Sirius read over his shoulder and was soon frowning.

"What is this word?" Harry asked, pointing with furrowed brows.

Sirius had to clear his throat. "Paris," he supplied. "Would you like me to read it to you?" he asked.

"I can do it," Harry said so Sirius sat back, helping only when Harry asked and read the words silently again.

Dear Harry, the letter began in Draco's familiar, tidy print. And as usual, it was clear that the little boy had either been coached by Dobby or he had used a spell-correcting quill. Not one word was misspelled. Mother and Father finally came home. I wish I went with them. Mother says Paris has a street just like Diagon Alley with even more shops. They brought me a new broom. I wish I could show it to you. I asked Mother but she told me she and Father would discuss it. I know what that means. They had a row last night. They don't shout of course so I had to be very quiet so I could hear them. Dobby says I mustn't listen because it's private but I ignored him. Mother says Sirius is a traitor and that she doesn't care if it is good politics for me and you to be friends. I don't know what politics are but she says Sirius will teach me all about being a traitor. Dobby isn't supposed to help me write letters to you, he says but I don't care. Father told mother they would discuss it later, when she wasn't hysterical. I'm not sure what that means either, but Father didn't like it. He patted her hand and told her I would never betray them. I think betray is something about a traitor too. Dobby made me leave then but I don't think I can see you until Mother says so. I asked Dobby to shrink one of my favorite books. Maybe Sirius can make it big again for you. It was signed, Your friend, Draco Malfoy in a loopy flourish.

"You aren't a traitor," Harry said with a scowl when he came to that particular section. "What's politics?"

"It has to do with the Minister of Magic and those that help him," Sirius answered. "Mr. Malfoy and the Minister are very good friends."

"Why doesn't Draco's mum like you?" Harry asked as he continued on.

Sirius didn't want to answer that, but just as Remus had said, the difficult questions did need to be answered by them before someone else did it instead.

"You remember I told you that the Malfoys are my cousins?" Harry nodded and Sirius went on, "When I was a kid, I decided not to do some of the same things that the rest of my family was doing. It upset my parents and my brother very much. Mrs. Malfoy's family was angry with me as well."

"Why didn't you want to do what they were doing?" Harry asked, looking extremely worried for some reason so Sirius smoothed his godson's hair and made himself relax.

"Some of my family members believed that nonsense that all families should only be made up of people with magic," Sirius said. "And I didn't believe that. But you see, Harry, my family didn't like my disagreeing with them. But I couldn't agree with that, even though it made them angry. If I had I couldn't have been friends with your mother ... or Hagrid," he added with a smile. "Or you dad, since he loved your mother very much and she comes from a non-magical family. It isn't right to dislike people because they don't have magic or because they aren't exactly like you. All of us are different and that's as it should be."

Harry was quiet as he leaned against Sirius' chest, his fingers curled around the tiny book in his hand. "Mrs. Malfoy doesn't like me, does she?" he asked, his voice nearly a whisper.

Sirius wrapped his arms around his godson and was very grateful when Remus sat down beside them; it made this easier. "Mrs. Malfoy doesn't know you, Harry and it isn't that she doesn't like you. She doesn't want anyone to be different than her. I know that doesn't make any sense," he added, realizing he was bollixing this all up.

"But then," Harry said in a tremulous voice, "Draco doesn't like me either?"

The answer to that was automatic, before Sirius even had a chance to think about it. "Of course he does, Harry," he said. "He signed the letter 'your friend', didn't he? And he sent you his favorite book. He knows how much you love to read."

"But they called you a traitor!" Harry's indignation was clear on his face as his jaw set. "I don't like them!"

Feeling ridiculous buoyed by his godson's childish declaration, Sirius kissed the top of his head. "You like Draco," he assured his godson. "It's all right if his parents don't like me much; you can still be his friend. Even if you can't see him very often," he hastened to add as Draco's letter taunted him, "but you can still write to one another and maybe someday, Mrs. Malfoy will change her mind."

Harry's lower lips quivered. "But what if Draco says you're a traitor too?" he demanded.

"Well," Sirius hesitated, "you don't have to be his friend if he does." He exchanged glances with Remus and was relieved when Remus gave him an encouraging smile.

Harry swiped a fist across his nose.

"Draco is already your friend, Harry," Remus added softly. "He won't necessarily think Sirius is a traitor because his parents think so."

It took Harry a moment but he finally nodded. "Draco's mum and dad aren't very nice," he said resolutely.

"They aren't behaving very nicely, no," Remus agreed, patting Harry's knee. "But I think it's probably best that you don't tell Draco that you don't like them."

Harry scowled, but he didn't contradict the suggestion.

"Harry," Sirius said, patting his godson's stomach to get his attention and Harry twisted his neck around. "If there's ever anything that Draco says that you don't understand, I want you to ask Remus or me about it. Or anything that makes you feel funny. It's very important," he said seriously. "Can you do that?"

"Uh huh," Harry answered, still frowning a little. "Why is it important?" he asked.

"Other than not liking some people because they're different, Draco's mum and dad might have other ideas that aren't very kind," Sirius tried to explain; it was rather difficult since he felt like he was speaking in cryptic riddles. "And Remus and I don't want them to teach you things like that. You, Harry, are a very kind boy and we always want you to be kind to others just as you are now."

Harry smiled. "Draco's nice too," he said as he turned around again and flipped the little book over and over in his fingers. "Can you make this big for me?" he asked.

"I'll do it," Remus volunteered, ready with his wand. "And then why don't you work on your letter back to Draco so Berenices doesn't have to sit all night long on that pumpkin. I can't think it makes a very comfortable perch."

"I think she likes it," Harry said, pointing to the owl; her head was tucked under her wing. "She's asleep!"

Sirius chuckled. "She certainly is."

Sirius summoned quill and parchment for his godson. He helped Harry sound out words while Remus went back to the dinner preparations. Berenices hooted softly in her sleep, making all three of them laugh.

--

A/N: Berenices (pronounced 'bear uh nice eez') is a constellation, found in the same quadrant and family as the constellation Draco. :o)